In the grand feast of life, green veggies often get a bad rap.
I remember Kermit the frog used to lament, “It’s not easy being green.” Like Kermit, the humble green vegetable often finds itself ignored, disdained, picked last from the buffet array, and readily pushed to the side of the plate.
Picture a plate piled high with vibrant green vegetables, perhaps some spinach, maybe a few Brussels sprouts thrown in for good measure. For many of us, this image triggers a wave of childhood memories, ones filled with battles at the dinner table, where we were coerced, cajoled, and sometimes downright forced into consuming these supposed “healthy” greens.
Do echoes of the phrase, “Clean your plate!” enter into your mind? It’s no wonder, then, that as adults, we find ourselves still shying away from these verdant offerings. Moms and dads alike are faced with a common challenge: the uphill battle against ingrained aversions to wholesome, nutrient-packed foods.
We cleverly can avoid our aversion to fresh green vegetables transforming them through culinary deception. Vegetables, once adversaries, can find themselves adorned with layers of cheese or hidden beneath syrupy and oily sauces.
Quick satisfaction beats out thinking about long-term health benefits. If we faced off against broccoli in our youth, as an adult we can choose to drench our salads in creamy dressings and camouflage our spinach under a blanket of butter. The fight against green continues by employing masking cooking techniques.
The reality is that it’s tough to find healthier foods than green veggies. They are brimming with fiber, micronutrients and antioxidants, and they are the ultimate form of wholesome nourishment. Eating more veggies is linked to not gaining too much weight, having a healthier heart, and a lower chance of getting diabetes.
Plant-based foods don’t carry common allergens, and they’re low in calories, fat, and salt. You can cook them in lots of healthy, creative, and tasty ways. Given versatile preparation possibilities, they can be adaptable to any dietary plan.
When the term “kale” is suggested as a choice option to visitors at the food pantry, you generally can observe a range of distasteful facial expressions. Some scrunch up their noses, possibly indicating a dislike for the strong and somewhat bitter taste of kale.
Others raise their eyebrows or frown, suggesting their reluctance and distaste of it. Apparently to many folks, kale is simply a dirty word.
So, why do we ditch the healthy foods for the tasty ones? Blame it on our taste buds. We are hooked on sweet, salty and fatty flavors, not the subtle goodness of greens.
Cues in the media play an influential role. Advertisements bombard us with images of mouthwatering burgers dripping with cheese and pancakes drowning in syrup, leaving the appearance of a mound of fresh greens to pale in comparison.
But, here’s the real deal. Picking tasty doesn’t have to mean ditching healthy. It’s about seeing green veggies as more than just a boring chore and realizing they can be tasty too.
In general, it can include a mindset shift that isn’t just about food. Life’s a bunch of choices, right? Just as choosing healthy greens leads to a better, more vibrant body, life itself is a series of choices with consequences.
Some decisions may seem difficult, but making the right choices can lead to positive outcomes. Some might seem hard, but going for the good stuff can lead to good outcomes.
It’s like taking the scenic route. The road might require some extra effort to travel upon, but ultimately the spectacular view at your destination is worth it.
The Bible provides a guidepost for making the right choices and emphasizes the goodness of God’s provisions. As Proverbs 3:5-6 suggests, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Applying this wisdom to our dietary choices, we recognize that God’s provisions include the bountiful array of nourishing green vegetables. Choosing to follow His guidance not only impacts our physical well-being but also aligns with a broader understanding of making positive choices in life.
Overcoming our aversion to green vegetables involves more than just a change in eating habits. It’s a journey of making conscious choices, acknowledging that the right decisions might require a bit more effort but lead to positive consequences.
Just as we choose the path to a healthier body, we can navigate life’s crossroads with the assurance that following God’s guidance and provisions is a recipe for a fulfilling and abundant life.
Janet Mills is the director of Cassville Pantry, located at 800 W. 10th St. in Cassville. She may be reached at cassvillepantry@gmail.com or 417-846-7871.
